Running Down a Dream

I'm not sure what I was thinking, but I've decided to try and run a 10k in March.

I am going to (try to) run the Cooper River Bridge Run.  I love Charleston.  And I love my best friend, Jordan, (Wholly Guacamole!)  So, when Jordan told me that she was going to run the race, I ambitiously announced that I would run it, too.

Oh, brother.

Now, to fully understand the insanity behind this decision, you have to understand that I have never been a runner.  I've tried several times to be a runner, and always stopped after 2 or 3 "runs".  

You also have to understand that I am seriously out of shape right now.  Like, out-of-breath-after-carrying-Lucy-up-the-stairs, out of shape.  Like, out-of-breath-after-a-long-sentence, out of shape.

So, anyway.  I thought I'd give it a shot.  After all, spending more time outside was one of my New Year's Resolutions.  And...this Florida winter we're having is a-mah-zing.

January, people.  January.  I'm loving this winter.

So, Jordan recommended this great iPhone app to me from RunKeeper.com.

   

So, basically, the app tracks my progress using the GPS on my phone.  

I've been starting out slow, using a pre-programmed interval workout.  Running for 1 minute and then walking for 1.5 minutes.  

I do that for 20 minutes after a 5 minute warm-up and then finish with a 5 minute cool-down.

The app uses my iPod playlists to play music and a voice breaks in periodically and tells you when to start the next interval, etc., (she starts to sound like a real bitch towards the end of the workout.)

Summary of the workout.

Breakdown of the intervals.

So, that's it.  I really like using the RunKeeper app to keep me on track.  I've been working on it for a couple of weeks now and I'm not convinced that it's getting easier, but I am going a little further each time during the 30 minutes.  Once I am ready to move on to running longer distances, the app will let me know how fast I'm going and help keep me on pace.

We'll see when that is...and how that goes.  I'll keep you updated!

Until then.